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Honoring Our Firefighters

International Firefighters Day 2022 (2)

Today, we join the world in recognizing the service and sacrifice firefighters around the world have made to ensure their communities remain safe. International Firefighters’ Day has been observed on May 4 since 1999. It’s a time to honor those who have served as fire fighters and those who have been unfortunately lost.

International Firefighters’ Day started in response to the sacrifices made by five firefighters in Australia. On December 2, 1998, a massive wildfire in Linton, Australia swept through the region. Five firefighters and volunteers who were brought in to assist - Garry Vredeveldt, Chris Evans, Stuart Davidson, Jason Thomas, and Matthew Armstrong - were on their Geelong West Fire Brigade’s tanker when there was a sudden violent wind change sweeping the flames toward the group. The crew was refilling their tanker with water when they were engulfed by flames.

Because of the dedication and efforts of JJ Edmondson, a volunteer Lieutenant and firefighter from Victoria, Australia, and the sacrifices made by the five Geelong West Fire Brigade firefighters, International Firefighters’ Day is recognized. JJ knew there needed to be a day to recognize and remember current firefighters and those who gave everything trying to save life and property.

Firefighters dedicate their lives to the protection of life and property. This dedication can be in the form of volunteering or working many selfless years in the industry. Regardless, they’re both a risk at giving the ultimate sacrifice…a firefighter’s life. At CertaSite, we may not be the ones fighting the fires, but we’re here to prevent, alert, and protect ultimately keeping people and their environments safe. And by keeping fire protection systems working properly, we also help protect firefighters and first responders safe.

Lieutenant JJ Edmondson said it best, “The role of a firefighter in today’s society – be it urban, rural, natural environment, volunteer, career, industrial, defense force, aviation, motorsport, or other is one of dedication, commitment and sacrifice – no matter what country we reside and work in. In the fire service we fight together against one common enemy – fire – no matter what country we come from, what uniform we wear or what language we speak.”

We’re so grateful to the firefighters – and their families - around the globe making these sacrifices and risking their lives every day, including many CertaSite employees who used to be firefighters or are currently firefighters. Your dedication, sacrifice, and heroism are admirable, and we’re so thankful for all you do to keep people safe inside and outside of CertaSite.

Please join us in recognizing these firefighters, who also happen to be CertaSite employees, and their years of service:

  • Chris Bard - 34 years
  • Chad Blackburn – 25 years
  • Andre Bouvrette - 8 years
  • Ed Giles - 3 years
  • Steven Goodman - 21 years
  • Doug Kriebel - 10 years
  • Ryan Libengood - 8 years
  • Dalton Loker - 1 year
  • Jon Schroth - 8 years
  • AJ Simpson - 6 years
  • Christopher Stone - 6 years
  • Joe Teasley - 20 years
  • Bryan Tomlinson - 34 years
  • Bobby Townsend - 10 years
  • Chad Watt - 17 years
  • Brandon Weister - 17 years

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